The official position of Zongzheng has only one official position of Qing, with a salary of two thousand shi. The book explains that Zongzheng is responsible for managing the hierarchy and relationships among the royal family members, and each county must report the names of the royal family members annually. If a member of the imperial family commits a crime, it must be reported to Zongzheng first, who then reports to the court for a final decision on the punishment. In addition, there is also a Cheng (Deputy) with a salary of three hundred shi.
In the princess's residence, each princess has a housekeeper with a salary of six hundred shi, and there is also a Cheng (Deputy) with a salary of three hundred shi. The book explains that the number of officials in the princess's residence varies and is not fixed. These officials in the princess's residence are all under the authority of Zongzheng. The book also mentions that during the period of the revival, the official positions of Dusi Kongling and Cheng were abolished.
The official position of Dusi Nong has only one official position of Qing, with a salary of two thousand shi. The book explains that Dusi Nong is responsible for overseeing the nation's finances, grain, currency, and various forms of money. Each county must report the financial account books monthly, and if there are outstanding debts, these must be itemized. If officials in border areas request supplies, Dusi Nong is responsible for providing them, adjusting based on actual needs to meet demand. Dusi Nong also has a Cheng (Deputy) with a salary equivalent to one thousand shi, and a Buzheng (Deputy) with a salary of six hundred shi. The book explains that the Buzheng is responsible for managing the national treasury.
Taicang Official, who earns a salary of 600 stones, is tasked with receiving grain transported from various regions. This position has a deputy. Pingzhun Official, who earns a salary of 600 stones, is responsible for regulating prices, overseeing textile dyeing, and procuring coloring materials. This position has a deputy. Daoguan Official, who earns a salary of 600 stones, is responsible for milling rice and preparing cooked rice. The term "Dao" means "to select." This position has a deputy. All these positions fall under the authority of the Grand Minister of Agriculture. It is also mentioned in the book that the original salt and iron officials from the counties now report to the Grand Minister of Agriculture, and during the revival period, they were assigned to the counties. There is also a Lingxi Official, who earns a salary of 600 stones, responsible for sacrificial animals and birds. During the revival period, the officials of Luoyang and Xingyang Aocang now report to the Henan Intendant. Other positions, such as the Director of Equalization, have been eliminated.
The position of Shaofu is held by a single official, who earns a salary of 2,000 stones. The book explains that Shaofu is responsible for managing the royal clothing, vehicles, treasures, food, and drinks. This position has a deputy, who earns a salary of 1,000 stones. Taishi Official, who earns a salary of 600 stones, is responsible for managing doctors nationwide. There are a Medicine Deputy and a Prescription Deputy. The Medicine Deputy manages medications, while the Prescription Deputy oversees prescriptions. Taiguan Official, who earns a salary of 600 stones, is responsible for managing the royal food. This position has a Left Deputy, a Sweet Deputy, a Soup Deputy, and a Fruit Deputy. The Left Deputy oversees food, the Sweet Deputy is responsible for tableware, the Soup Deputy is responsible for alcohol, and the Fruit Deputy is responsible for fruits.
Shou Gong Official, who earns an annual salary of 600 stones, is responsible for managing the emperor's writing materials, including paper, pens, and ink, as well as the finances and seals of the Ministry of Personnel. This position also has a deputy.
Shanglin Garden Official, who earns an annual salary of 600 stones, is responsible for overseeing the birds and animals in Shanglin Garden. He also oversees some residents in the garden. Captured animals are to be sent to the royal kitchen. This position also includes a deputy and a guard.
The Chamberlain, an official of the rank equivalent to an annual salary of two thousand shi, is primarily responsible for serving at the emperor's side, assisting with various matters, and answering the emperor's questions. When the emperor goes on inspection tours, they usually bring along someone knowledgeable to ride in the same carriage, while others follow on horseback. This position used to have a Director of Servants, which was later changed to the position of Master of Ceremonies; sometimes this position exists, sometimes it does not.
The Palace Attendant, with an annual salary of one thousand shi, is a eunuch position with no fixed number of people. Later, the salary was increased, and the rank became equivalent to a high-ranking official with an annual salary of two thousand shi. They primarily serve at the emperor's side, can enter the inner palace, assist with various affairs in the inner palace, answer the emperor's questions, and handle government affairs.
The Yellow Gate Gentleman, with an annual salary of six hundred shi, is primarily responsible for serving at the emperor's side, handling government affairs, and facilitating communication between the inner and outer courts. When princes come to the palace for an audience, they are led to their seats by this official.
The Junior Yellow Gate Gentleman, with an annual salary of six hundred shi, is primarily responsible for serving at the emperor's side, handling government affairs transferred from the Chancellery. When the emperor is in the inner palace, they are responsible for communication between the inner and outer courts and affairs below the inner palace. If a princess or queen consort falls ill, they are sent to visit.
The Chief of the Yellow Gate, a single individual with an annual salary of six hundred shi, is in charge of overseeing all the eunuchs in the palace. There is also a deputy chief and a sub-chief under them, with the sub-chief being a eunuch in charge of matters related to entering and leaving the court.
There is one Chief of the Yellow Gate Office, one Chief of the Painting Office, and one Chief of the Jade Hall Office, each earning an annual salary of four hundred shi and wearing a yellow sash. They are all eunuchs responsible for managing different areas of the inner palace.
The Assistant Director of Redundant Personnel of the Central Yellow Gate, with an annual salary of six hundred shi, is tasked with managing the redundant personnel of the Central Yellow Gate. They are usually in charge of guarding the palace gates and accompany the emperor on inspections, riding horses on either side of the carriage to protect it.
The Zhonghuangmen is a position with an annual salary equivalent to one hundred shi. According to historical texts, this position is held by eunuchs, and there is no fixed number of personnel. Later on, the salary increased to an equivalent of three hundred shi annually. They are mainly responsible for handling political affairs in the palace.
The Yetingling is a position held by one person, with an annual salary of six hundred shi. Historical records indicate that this position is held by eunuchs, responsible for managing the noblewomen and court ladies in the harem. There are also Left and Right Assistants and a Baoshi Assistant. Historical records indicate that the Baoshi Assistant is also a eunuch, responsible for managing the sick women in the palace, who receive treatment in the Baoshi; if the Empress or noblewomen commit a crime, they may also be imprisoned there.
In ancient palaces, there existed a position known as Yongxiangling, with an annual salary of six hundred shi, a position held by eunuchs, mainly responsible for managing palace maids and guards. There is also an Assistant, who is likewise a eunuch.
Then there is the Yufuling, which is also held by eunuchs, offering an annual salary of six hundred shi. This position oversees the production and cleaning of garments in the palace. There is also an Assistant and a Weaving Assistant, both held by eunuchs.
Next is the Cisiling, also held by eunuchs, with an annual salary of six hundred shi, responsible for managing the sacrificial activities in the small temples in the palace. There is also an Assistant, who is also a eunuch.
The Goudunling, which is also held by eunuchs, offers an annual salary of six hundred shi. They are in charge of the ponds, gardens, and recreational areas near the palace. There is also an Assistant and a Yong'an Assistant, who has an annual salary of three hundred shi, both held by eunuchs. Yong'an refers to a small palace with a garden located in the northeast corner of the Northern Palace. There are also Yuanchung, Guochung, Hongchi, and Nanyuan Assistants, all with two hundred shi, also held by eunuchs. The Yuanchung Assistant oversees various tasks in the garden, the Guochung Assistant manages the orchard, Hongchi is the name of a pond located twenty li east of Luoyang, and Nanyuan is south of the Luo River. There are also the Zhaolong Supervisor and Zhili Supervisor, both of whom earn four hundred shi and are eunuchs. Zhaolong is a garden located near the Northern Palace, while Zhili is situated in the southwest corner of Luoyang city.
The Zhongcangfu Ling, which is held by eunuchs, offers an annual salary of six hundred shi, responsible for managing the storage of money, textiles, gold, silver, and various treasures within the palace. There is also an Assistant.
The Director of Internal Affairs, with a salary of 600 stones, is held by eunuchs and is in charge of various fabrics and daily necessities used in the palace. There is also a Left Deputy and a Right Deputy.
The Director of the Imperial Household, with a salary of 600 stones, is held by eunuchs and is in charge of the crafting of swords, knives, and various exquisite items in the palace. There is also a Deputy under this position.
There is another Director of the Imperial Household with an annual salary of 1,000 stones! This position has existed since the Qin Dynasty; during Emperor Wu's reign, eunuchs were appointed to this role and renamed as the Director of the Central Secretariat. However, during Emperor Cheng's reign, scholars took over this role, and the original title was reinstated. This position is mainly responsible for handling and reviewing various documents and affairs sent by the Secretariat.
Lastly, there is the Supervisor of the Secretariat, with a salary of 600 stones. This position is responsible for handling the affairs of the Secretariat, and when the Secretary is absent, this individual manages various official documents.
In ancient times, the Secretariat initially only had four Secretaries, each in charge of a department with an annual salary of 600 stones. Specifically, the Chief Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat was responsible for handling the affairs of the court officials; the Chief Secretary of the Two Thousand Stones oversaw the high-ranking officials earning an annual salary of two thousand stones in the counties and states; the Civil Secretary was responsible for handling various petitions from the common people; and the Foreign Secretary was responsible for handling affairs of foreign countries and ethnic minorities. Later, the Emperor divided the departments further; the position of Chief Secretary of the Two Thousand Stones was split, and the Foreign Secretary role was split into two divisions: Northern and Southern, making a total of six departments, each with a Secretary. Each department also had a Left and Right Deputy, each earning a salary of 400 stones, mainly responsible for recording documents and arranging meetings. The Left Deputy primarily handled reports from officials and the people, while the Right Deputy was in charge of managing seals, stationery, and some material warehouses. In addition, there were thirty-six Attendants, each earning a salary of 400 stones, with six Attendants in each department, mainly responsible for drafting documents. There were also eighteen Historians earning 200 stones annually, three in each department, responsible for copying documents. Subsequently, three additional Historians were appointed, totaling twenty-one individuals.
Next is the discussion of the Regulator of Tokens. The annual salary is 600 stones, and he is in charge of the Token Management Office, responsible for managing the Fu Jie, referring to ancient tokens. He is responsible for issuing them whenever an envoy is dispatched. The Shang Fu Seal Keeper has four people, with their salaries unspecified. Previously, there were only two people, primarily tasked with safeguarding the seals and holding half of the tiger and bamboo tokens (the tiger and bamboo tokens are ancient military tokens that must be joined together to mobilize troops). The Fu Jielingshi has an annual salary of 200 stones and is responsible for copying documents.
Next is the Deputy Chief Censor, earning an annual salary of 1,000 stones, who is the assistant to the Chief Censor. Previously, the Deputy Chief Censor secretly investigated illegal activities in the palace. Later, after the Chief Censor was reassigned as the Minister of Works, the Deputy Chief Censor remained at the Censorate and was later placed under the Ministry of Revenue. There are also two Assistant Censors who work at the Imperial Library, earning an annual salary of 600 stones, tasked with reviewing legal texts, addressing disputed cases from across the nation, and determining the legality of cases based on the law. There are also fifteen Assistant Censors, earning an annual salary of 600 stones, tasked with overseeing officials, receiving reports from them, and impeaching those found guilty of illegal acts. During major sacrificial events, court meetings, and enfeoffment ceremonies, two individuals are assigned to oversee the proper conduct of these ceremonies, and if any issues arise, they report and initiate impeachment proceedings.
Finally, there is the Lan Tai Memorial Official, earning an annual salary of 600 stones, tasked with processing memorials and printing official documents.
Speaking of the Shao Fu Office, it is an official office. In the past, there was a note that stated: the Shao Fu Office oversees four departments, including the Imperial Medical Bureau and the Imperial Park. From the Privy Councilor to the Imperial Censor, all these civil officials fall under the Shao Fu's jurisdiction. Following the structure established during the Qin Dynasty, the tax revenue from mountains, marshes, and ponds, referred to as "forbidden money," also falls under the jurisdiction of the Shao Fu. Later, Emperor Shizu transferred this tax revenue to the Ministry of Agriculture, the Bureau of Works was transferred to the Ministry of Works, and the Water Works to the jurisdiction of various counties. During the reign of Emperor Xiaowu, the position of Water Inspector was established, equivalent to a rank of two thousand stones, specifically responsible for the areas in the Imperial Park where emperors rested. Emperor Shizu later streamlined the organization and merged the duties of the Water Inspector into the Shao Fu. However, during the annual autumn sacrifices, a Water Inspector would be temporarily appointed, and once the task was completed, the position would be revoked.
Originally, the Shao Fu had six deputies, which were later reduced to one. The positions of the Soup Official and the Weaver were eliminated, and deputies were appointed instead. The ten pond supervisors, the chief of the Bo people, eunuchs, court musicians, and entertainers, as well as the twenty-one deputies in the Imperial Park, were also reduced. More than twenty official positions in the Water Inspectorate, including officials, chiefs, deputies, and inspectors, were also eliminated. After the Zhanghe period, the number of palace officials began to increase, and departments such as Tasting Medicine, the Imperial Kitchen, Palace Attendants, Hook and Shield, the Imperial Wardrobe, the Bureau of Works, and the Separate Works Supervision were added, with each department staffed by officials holding a rank of six hundred stones, all of whom were eunuchs. Later, these positions were either merged with secondary roles or outright abolished; thus, the records here reflect the original official positions.
